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Want to 10x your growth in 2023? Follow this 2-step “get focused” method.

In This Article

Last year, I didn’t think the New Year would affect me at all.

Most holidays don’t. Most “events” don’t.

But when December 31 rolled over into January 1, I felt something.

Maybe it was the collective excitement of the world.

I don’t know.

But I suddenly felt more awake, aware, inspired. I wanted to re-focus on my goals, take another look at them to make sure they fit me, make new ones.

But I hate just sitting down and writing goals. Sometimes it feels good, but it always feels just… “unsatisfying” to me.

Like, “That was kinda cool, but I don’t feel like I got any closer to achieving them.”

Do you know what I mean?

If I’m going to set and stick to goals, I have to dig deep, and go through a process that makes me feel like I’m really accomplishing them and getting somewhere.

This 2-step process hits the mark:

1. Write this down. Every. Darn. Day.

Why do you want to achieve your goals? What do you desire underneath?

If you’re like me, your goals are just mediums to achieving a greater purpose or way of life.

They’re the boat that gets you down the river.

I want more money – to give my family more opportunities and comfort and to be able to give back more and help others.

I want more time – so I can enjoy that comfort and be present with my family more.

That’s the “So what?” behind my goals.

That’s what really motivates me, what I’m really striving for, what keeps me up at night and makes me wake up in the middle of the night with a mixture of anxiety and excitement.

So here’s what you write down, every darn day:

Write a paragraph or two about what you want your life to look like.

Once you’ve achieved your goals, how do things change? What does your house look like? Your morning ritual? Your day? Your friends? Your family? Your relationship with your spouse?

What do these things look and feel like?

Write that down.

Why do you write it down every day? Why not just once?

Because as you grow and achieve your goals, you grow and evolve.

What you write today might be very different from what you write tomorrow even.

Heck, at the rate I’m reaching and striving, often what I want at the start of the day is different by the end of it.

So write this down every day.

It doesn’t have to be a Charles Dickens-like explanation either. It can be simple sentences, even bullet points.

The point is to imagine it as strongly as you can because that’s what will drive you and get you focused.

Cool?

Here’s the thing:

Maybe, right now, you’re not in a very good place. Maybe there’s more anxiety and fear in your life than good things.

Maybe it’s hard to even imagine a better life, let alone write it down.

That’s okay.

If that’s the case, then here’s what I want you to do (I got this from a wise friend):

Think of two adjectives that describe the “opposite” of what you’re feeling now.

But make sure those adjectives hit you right in the gut.

That they impact you.

2. Now that you know what you want, make this list every week:

Okay, so now you know what you really want deep down inside and you’re focused.

But there’s a problem:

You have habits ingrained in you right now that are keeping you where you are right now.

In reaching for success, most people focus on the goals and the what you need to “do”…

But it’s just as much about what you need “not” to do.

This is hard, and takes a lot of self-reflection and thinking and meditation…

But every week, write down a list of habits you have that you need to get rid of if you want to be more successful.

Do you procrastinate? Do you avoid the phone?

Do you waste too much time on social media that you could be using growing and achieving?

Do you avoid growth activities that would give you results today because they cause you too much fear?

Look yourself dead in the eye and ask yourself:

“What am I doing that is holding me back?”

That can be hard. Really hard.

It can be scary too, to be so honest with yourself.

But if you keep doing the habits that are keeping you where you are now…

It’s hard to get anywhere else.

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Profile Image: David Tendrich

Written by David Tendrich

Staff at Millo.co

David Tendrich is the co-head of creative agency Unexpected Ways, as well as the co-founder of Reliable PSD: the first-ever PSD to HTML & PSD to Wordpress service run by designers, for designers. He co-runs his companies from Portland, Oregon with his lovely wife and biz partner, Lou Levit.

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  1. Cool insight ! I really enjoyed this article. Would definitely like to hear more from you ! As I’m starting my own business the more people with ideas the better I say

  2. This post fell into my mailbox at the right time. Did just read another post on the same subject matter and started that. I like the added part of working on self-destructive habits so I will do that one too.
    Good luck with your progress!

    1. David Tendrich says:

      Nice! Yeah, those habits are tough to even identify, but so worth it.

      Thanks for sharing,
      David